There is also one upgrade that could save you money on energy costs for years to come.
Households across the UK could be losing hundreds of pounds every year because of one outdated piece of kit sitting in millions of homes – their boiler.
With the energy price cap rising by two per cent from Wednesday, October 1 – increasing annual bills from £1,720 to £1,755 – one heating expert is warning that now is the time to check what rating your appliance really has, before it costs you even more this winter.
According to Adam Knight, Lead Engineer at BOXT, swapping an old boiler for a modern A-rated one could slash your annual energy bill by over £500, without you having to change how much heating or hot water you use. It could also help you beat the looming price cap without switching energy suppliers.
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Adam explained: “Heating and hot water make up more than half of your annual energy bill. If your boiler’s over eight years old, chances are it’s not running at full efficiency.
“Most people don’t realise how much their boiler is quietly costing them.”
He added: “If you live in a detached property and your boiler is rated G, you could be burning through an extra £569 a year, which is a third of the cost of a new boiler installation at BOXT, whose prices start at £1,690. That’s money that could be going towards groceries or paying off your mortgage.”
The new analysis by boiler experts BOXT reveals just how much typical homeowners could save on energy by upgrading to an A-rated boiler.
If you live in one of these five common UK property types, below is what you could save every year according to BOXT. The savings shown are based on data from Ofgem for typical energy consumption and energy usage rates.
Property type and potential annual saving
- Detached – £569
- Semi-detached – £361
- Bungalow – £315
- Mid-terrace – £295
- Flat – £131
Understanding how your boiler works
The energy efficiency of your boiler is simply the percentage of fuel your boiler actually uses to heat your home. So if your boiler is 88 per cent efficient, that means 88 per cent of the energy goes into warming your radiators and water, while the remaining 12 per cent is lost through the flue or used to power the system itself.
Boilers are rated from A to G for efficiency. An A-rated boiler is the most efficient (typically 90% or above), while a G-rated one can be as low as 70 per cent, meaning nearly a third of the energy you’re paying for is wasted.
How to find your boiler’s efficiency rating
To check your boiler’s energy rating:
- Look for a sticker or label on the boiler unit itself. Newer models should show it clearly on the energy label
- Check the user manual or installation documents
- Search the model number online to find official specifications
Adam said: “Knowing your rating is the first step to understanding how much energy and money your current system is wasting, and whether it’s time for an upgrade.”
While the cost of a new boiler may seem daunting, rising energy prices mean the savings you make on your energy bill will go a long way to offsetting costs, and you’ll make your money back in energy savings in less time than you might think.
According to Which?, the average cost of a new gas combi boiler including installation is £2,597.
If you live in a detached property and upgrade from a boiler with a grade G efficiency rating, you could have saved back the cost of your new A rated boiler in just over four and a half years.
